The Falsifiability Criterion

The Falsifiability Criterion, proposed by Karl Popper has been widely accepted in the fields of philosophy of science. Popper rejected induction, which allowed for greater clarity in formulating theories that could be either accepted or rejected based on available evidence.

The Falsifiability Criterion demands rejection of any scientific theory that is not falsifiable. According to Popper, the search for truth originates from the attempt to uncover what is false, rather than vice versa. Therefore, a theory can only be accepted as true if it can be rejected, based on evidence and logical argument.

To apply the Falsifiability Criterion principle, a researcher must first formulate a hypothesis that can be tested. In conducting their research, the researcher is expected to look for evidence or data that could potentially disprove their hypothesis. If the hypothesis is proved to be false, the researcher will then be required to modify the hypothesis or discard it and formulate a new one. In this way, the Falsifiability Criterion can be seen as an iterative process, allowing for continuous improvement and problem-solving.

The application of the Falsifiability Criterion has a number of implications:

• Research must be conducted in a strictly objective manner
• Instead of simply applying current methodologies in the study of social phenomena, Popper’s Criterion encourages researchers to develop new hypotheses and test them against existing evidence.
• Implies a shift away from theories merely providing answers to the research questions posed, to those that allow for further inquiry and exploration: refocus from the search for definitive answers, to the search for potentially falsifiable hypotheses.